The next morning Henry biked to Pete’s Café to buy milk and bread. But he had a more important reason. He needed to call Grandfather for advice.
Arriving at the café, Henry carefully placed his bike next to the white building. He entered the café and glanced around. Besides Pete there were only two other men, one at a table, and the other at the counter.
“Hi, Henry, my boy,” Pete called. He was drinking a cup of coffee at the counter. “How do you like living in my house? Are you taking good care of it?”
Henry smiled. “We sure are.” He liked old Pete. He’d been a friend of Grandfather’s for years.
“I knew you kids would.” Pete chuckled. “What brings you out so early, Henry?”
Henry smiled. “I need to buy bread and milk.”
While Pete was taking the milk out of the refrigerator, Henry called Grandfather.
“Henry!” Grandfather Alden said in a delighted voice, “I’m glad to hear from you. Is everything all right?”
“Fine,” Henry said, clearing his throat. “We found a small boy hiding in the library.”
“Oh?” Grandfather said, waiting for Henry to continue.
“His name is Miguel Morales, and he’s scared that he might be sent to a home. He’s only ten, and he’s all alone.”
“Well,” Grandfather began.
But Henry hurried on before Grandfather could interrupt. “You see Miguel’s father was a fisherman, and his boat sank.”
“Was it The Maria?”
“Yes,” Henry said, surprised. “How did you know?”
“I heard the news on the radio. There were three fishermen on the boat.”
“Yes, that’s what Miguel said,” Henry answered.
“I’ll check with the Coast Guard and find out if anyone was rescued. Don’t worry, Henry, we won’t let Miguel be taken to a home.”
Henry sighed with relief. Grandfather could always be depended upon to help.
“And what else have you been up to?” Grandfather Alden asked.
“Oh,” Henry said. “I almost forgot. Benny discovered the hilt of a Civil War sword on the library shelves. We found a letter from General Meade awarding the sword to a Charles Howard. Captain Howard had been a courageous soldier at the Battle of Gettysburg.”
“A Civil War sword!” Grandfather sounded excited. “That could be a very valuable find. Many museums would want to put it on display.” He paused. “It could even help the library become a landmark. But didn’t you find the rest of the sword?”
“No,” Henry said. “Not yet. There are plenty of shelves, though, that we haven’t cleaned. We might still find it.”
“I hope it turns up,” Grandfather said. “You’ve done a lot of work at the library. Are you and Violet and Jessie and Benny ready to come home?”
“Not yet,” Henry said. “The library is getting clean and organized.”
Grandfather chuckled. “All right, Henry. You take care. I’ll be down next weekend to visit you. In the meantime, I want you all to bike in and have a good lunch at Pete’s. And don’t worry about the bill.”
“Thanks, Grandfather. We’d like that! Good-bye. We’ll see you soon.” Henry turned back to Pete and was pleased that his groceries were already packed.
He pedaled back to the cabin. Benny was waiting outside.
“I’m thirsty,” he complained.
“Why don’t you drink a glass of water?” Henry teased.
Benny grinned, and his brown eyes sparkled. “You know what I’m thirsty for!”
“Oh!” Henry said, slapping his forehead. “I know what it is. It’s cranberry juice!”
“No, it’s not!” Benny shouted.
“Could it be this?” Henry asked as he lifted out a gallon carton of milk.
“Yes, yes,” Benny said gleefully. “Is there bread, too?”
“Sure thing.” Henry laughed as Benny held the door open for him.
Inside, they all had bread and milk. Everyone laughed at Miguel, who had a white rim of milk on his face. Miguel smiled, too. He liked his new friends.
“Is everyone ready to get to work?” Jessie asked.
“I am,” Violet answered.
“So am I,” Henry added.
“Me, too,” Benny and Miguel echoed.
“Then let’s get started,” Jessie said with a smile. Her brown shiny hair was tied back with a blue ribbon.
Once in the library they rolled up their sleeves and started to work.
It wasn’t long before Miguel let out a yell. “Look! This piece of metal was behind the books!” Triumphantly he held up part of the rusty sword.
Henry examined the long metal piece, then patted Miguel on the back. “This is the middle of our sword. Now we need to find the point of the blade, and our sword will be complete!”
“Hurrah for Miguel!” Benny shouted.
“Good for you, Miguel,” Jessie said.
Violet patted Miguel’s hand.
“It’s almost time for lunch,” Henry said. “We’ll celebrate Miguel’s find with a meal at Pete’s.”
Cheerfully they biked to the café. Henry had wrapped the sword part and placed it in his bicycle’s basket. “I’m not letting this out of my sight!” he promised.
At Pete’s Café, they ordered lobster, potatoes, salad, and apple pie a la mode. Pete was pleased to meet Miguel, the Aldens’ new friend. Since Miguel came from another town, Pete didn’t recognize him. Pete was also pleased to see the children’s good appetites.
Benny leaned back, patting his stomach. “That was a good lunch!”
Pete burst out laughing. “I’ve never seen such big eaters. You all deserve a treat.”
Violet was puzzled. “Just for eating so much?” she questioned.
“No, just for being such nice children,” Pete answered. “How would you like a ride in my fishing boat?”
“Oh, yes!” cried Benny. “I love to ride in a boat.”
After they all boarded Captain Pete’s red fishing boat, Pete started the motor, and they set off over the waves. The whitecaps slapped against the boat, sending the spray flying. Sometimes the water splashed over the sides of the boat.
They rode way out into the bay. When Benny shaded his eyes, he could barely see the café. It was only a white speck.
For over an hour the boat rode the waves. Then Pete made a wide circle and headed back to the dock.
“That was fun!” Jessie said.
“Yes, sir!” Henry agreed, resting his hands on Benny’s shoulders.
“Can we do it again?” Benny asked.
Pete chuckled. “Anytime, mates. Just let me know.” He tied up the boat at the dock, and they jumped out.
Violet, the wind whipping through her long brown hair, said, “Thank you, Captain Pete.”
“You’re welcome, little lady,” Pete answered. His wide grin lit up his wrinkled face.
“We’d like to take you up on your offer for another ride,” Henry said. “We had a good time.” He glanced at Miguel. “Did you have fun, Miguel?”
“Oh, yes,” Miguel responded quietly, but he didn’t look at Henry. Jessie noticed Miguel’s sad, thin face.
“Miguel, we need to return to the library,” Jessie said. She knew that Miguel was thinking of his father and the lost fishing boat. “Do you feel like working?”
He nodded. “I want to help,” he said.
Except for Miguel, the Aldens mounted their bicycles. Miguel leapt up on the seat behind Henry, and they left for the library in high spirits.
Pushing open the library’s door, they each went to the spot where they’d been working. Henry had filled one box with valuable books and was ready to start a second one.
Jessie hummed softly as she dusted off books. Suddenly, she stopped. “Look,” she said in a low voice. From her fingertips she dangled a gray work glove.
Henry took the glove with black stitching around each finger. “This is a brand-new glove,” he observed. “It’s barely worn.”
Jessie said, “Someone’s been here . . . and left the glove.”
Benny, Miguel, and Violet joined Henry and Jessie. No one said a word. Frightened, Benny glanced over his shoulder.
The mystery wasn’t solved after all, Jessie thought. An intruder had invaded their library. A chill ran up her spine. |